He wasn't there this year. Dave Barry on lead guitar, Mitch Albom on keyboard, with singing from Amy Tan ("These Boots Were Made for Walking") and Scott Turow ("I Fought the Law"). Adam Mansbach (author of Go the F*** to Sleep) performed a rap called "Print on Demand," and Dave Barry sang "I'm in Love with a Proofreading Woman."
I want to dispute Birkerts a bit. I think every age thinks of itself as the most wacky and transformational era of technological advancement. We all eventually feel left behind. My grandmother was born in 1895 (right around the time Franz Xavier Wagner commercialized his invention as the Underwood Standard typewriter) and died in 1985 (quite soon after IBM licensed knockoffs of the DOS operating system and the personal computer revolution began), so think of all the transformations she experienced -- and, quite often, adopted. My father, born in 1923, uses his up-to-date apple computer and mobile phone every day, almost as if they were around 92 years back. He even has engaged in low-gauge sexting.
I wonder: do your students, as they get their syllibi on Moodle and take notes on their tablets, read Heidegger on Kindle? I doubt it.
I'd say Gutenberg is safe for a few generations.
The bigger issue may be something that a friend who's a NYC high school teacher mentioned to me: students no longer think they have to know anything -- because they can always find it out by using that seductive little device we all keep in our pockets. This ubiquity of the 'answer' available on the distributed brain called the cloud may have more lasting impact on our culture than any specific piece of technology.
Thanks for sharing the event. Looks like I missed a fantastic event. Have a great time at the party.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I bet being an Author is quite fun (:
ReplyDeleteIs Stephen King still playing in the Rock Bottom Remainders?
He wasn't there this year. Dave Barry on lead guitar, Mitch Albom on keyboard, with singing from Amy Tan ("These Boots Were Made for Walking") and Scott Turow ("I Fought the Law"). Adam Mansbach (author of Go the F*** to Sleep) performed a rap called "Print on Demand," and Dave Barry sang "I'm in Love with a Proofreading Woman."
DeleteIt was surreal.
Great post, your observations are very interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou lucky dog. I'd love to see the RBR. Sounds like your meeting people right up your alley with the philosophy slant.
ReplyDeleteKo-li-bri! Ko-li-bri! (Sorry - I couldn't help it :) )
ReplyDeleteSounds like awesome day you had there.
Great, Richard. May your authorship continue!
ReplyDeleteI want to dispute Birkerts a bit. I think every age thinks of itself as the most wacky and transformational era of technological advancement. We all eventually feel left behind. My grandmother was born in 1895 (right around the time Franz Xavier Wagner commercialized his invention as the Underwood Standard typewriter) and died in 1985 (quite soon after IBM licensed knockoffs of the DOS operating system and the personal computer revolution began), so think of all the transformations she experienced -- and, quite often, adopted. My father, born in 1923, uses his up-to-date apple computer and mobile phone every day, almost as if they were around 92 years back. He even has engaged in low-gauge sexting.
I wonder: do your students, as they get their syllibi on Moodle and take notes on their tablets, read Heidegger on Kindle? I doubt it.
I'd say Gutenberg is safe for a few generations.
The bigger issue may be something that a friend who's a NYC high school teacher mentioned to me: students no longer think they have to know anything -- because they can always find it out by using that seductive little device we all keep in our pockets. This ubiquity of the 'answer' available on the distributed brain called the cloud may have more lasting impact on our culture than any specific piece of technology.
Cheers!
Rob